Welcome to our Missions Ministry!

Our purpose in the Missions ministry is to put God's love into action. We do this through our various mission opportunities within the community and in conjunction with our multiple mission partners. In Missions, there is a place for people of all ages, abilities, and stages of life. If you have any questions, contact our Director of Missions Ministry, Sarah Beth Barger.

Sarah Beth Barger, Director of Missions Ministry |  

Ways to Volunteer

Sack Lunch Ministry

Each Sunday, our Missions Ministry serves sack lunches to our neighbors in need. Due to a recent increase in need, our Missions Ministry has decided to increase the number of lunches to 30.

Volunteers are invited to provide 30 sack lunches containing a meat and cheese sandwich, three snack items, and a bottle of water. These lunches are distributed from the Hull Street entrance of the church from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. every Sunday.

This ministry is a vital resource for our hungry neighbors and is a great way to make a big difference in a short timeframe. If you are interested in serving with this ministry, you can sign up for volunteer dates at the link below!
Sign Up to Serve

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread provides breakfast and lunch to our neighbors in need and is prepared and served at First Baptist Church downtown. Individuals, groups, and families are all invited to participate in providing a meal.

Athens First UMC has committed to serve lunch at Our Daily Bread once a month this year. Volunteers will prepare the meal from 10:00 a.m.-noon at Our Daily Bread, located at First Baptist for ~150 community guests. You can prepare the meal in advance if needed. Volunteering also includes an opportunity to serve the meal.

If you are interested in learning more about lunch or want to sign up to volunteer, please click below.

We also have committed to preparing and serving breakfast once a month. Volunteering for breakfast includes preparing/providing meals for ~70 community guests. Meals can be dropped off at First Baptist Church at 7:15 a.m. on your date OR during lunch service (12:00 -1:00 p.m.) the day before your date. The number of guests will be confirmed prior to your volunteer date.

If you are interested in learning more about breakfast or want to sign up to volunteer, please click below.
Sign Up for Lunch Sign Up for Breakfast

Souper Suppers

Save the date for our Souper Suppers program, LITERALLY! Dates are now available to sign up for our 2026 Souper Supper Season. Kicking off January 15, each Thursday, January through April, we invite our downtown neighbors into our church home to enjoy a hot meal and fellowship in Hancock Hall. This ministry is a great way to serve with your small group or Sunday School class, family, or as an individual. There are many ways to plug in, from cooking and serving a meal, providing children's blessing bags, engaging with our guests, or simply by providing donations for Souper Suppers Store.

Sign up to provide a meal or children's blessing bags at the links below.
Meals Sign-Up Provide Blessing Bags

Ways to Donate

Pantry Bags

Help our Missions Ministry by stocking our Food Pantry with Shelf-Stable Bags! These food bags serve our hungry community guests who have the ability to cook meals. Put together your pantry bag by filling a reusable shopping bag* with each of the following items: Box of Cereal, Box of Crackers, Jar of Peanut Butter, Can of Beans, Can of Corn, Can of Green Beans, Bag of Rice, Box of Macaroni and Cheese, and Two Cans of Tuna or Chicken.

*Reusable grocery bags are available at the front desk.

Once your food bag(s) are all together, they can be dropped off at the church's front desk! Each week, our church serves multiple folks who walk in need of food. This is a great way to support our community and ensure that our neighbors are well taken care of.

For more information, contact the church office at (706) 543-1442 or email

Diaper Bank

The Athens Area Diaper Bank strives to eradicate diaper needs by providing diapers to low-income families in the Athens area while raising public awareness of diaper needs and their impact. Through our partnership, we receive hundreds of diapers each month. These diapers are distributed to community guests who visit the church in need of diapers, as well as to our neighbors at Bethel Midtown Village.

Even though our annual diaper drive is in April, we are always accepting donations of new or opened packages.

For more information, contact the church office at (706) 543-1442 or email

Missions Brunch | April 19

We invite you to join us on Sunday, April 19, to celebrate what God has done through Athens First United Methodist Church in the past year! The Missions Celebration Brunch is a morning full of fun and fellowship around a yummy meal, accompanied by a silent basket auction.

Ways to Get Involved:
1. Attend the Brunch! 
2. Donate a basket! Gather your group, class, family, or friends and donate a basket to be bid on! The fun and unique baskets are always a highlight of the brunch each year! Let us know if you are interested in donating a basket.
3. Help us prepare! Help us decorate and get ready for the brunch.

Register

Donate a Basket

For more information, contact the church office at (706) 543-1442 or email  

Athens Feed My Starving Children Event

Feed my starving children is a Christian charity that was started in 1987. Its model is to provide scientifically designed meals that are packed by volunteers and distributed in 57 countries around the world by their on-ground partners (most of which are Christian NGO’s). These partners then focus on breaking the cycle of poverty by teaching life skills; farming skills; and building schools and churches.

In partnership with the UGA Athletic Association who provides Stegeman Coliseum plus logistical support. Multiple churches from the Athens area are coming together to package meals that will be shipped worldwide in the fight to end world hunger. 

Volunteers work in 2-hour sessions and each volunteer packs enough food to feed a child for 7 months!

It’s a great volunteer opportunity for families since children as young as 5 can volunteer if they are with an adult. Join us for the Athens First UMC shift 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Register

For more information, contact the church office at (706) 543-1442 or email  

Sign Up for Mission Update

The Missions Team is excited to be the hands and feet of Jesus and share the love in our community. Sign up on the Missions web page to receive the Mission Update weekly email to stay up to date on opportunities to serve.

Mission Update

 

Ministry Staff

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